HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-09-17 Planning Board Minutes
Mary Ann Barr 2021
Planning Board Minutes
Tuesday 17 September 2024 at 7:00PM
A Meeting of the Town of Danby Planning Board will be held at
7PM on Tuesday, September 17th 2024 In-person & via video conference (Zoom)
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89338971114?pwd=8bRFyylpKF3aTgDmoIdsYs29disLrF.1
Meeting ID: 893 3897 1114
Passcode: 956288
Dial in: 646 931 3860 or 929 205 6099
FINAL MINUTES
PRESENT:
Ed Bergman
Jacob Colbert
Colleen Cowan
Scott Davis
Jody Scriber
Jamie Vanucchi
Kelly Maher (Chair)
OTHER ATTENDEES:
Recording Secretary : Cindy Katz
Public: Andrew Thurnheer; Nicole Haddad; John Caito;
Thomas Sager; Leslie Connors (Town Board Liaison)
Please note that the Town Planner, Greg Hutnik, was not present for this meeting.
(1) CALL TO ORDER /AGENDA REVIEW: ADDITIONS OR
DELETIONS TO AGENDA
Meeting was opened at 7:00 p.m.
There were no additions or deletions.
(2) PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR
No one spoke.
(3) APPROVAL OF MINUTES (JULY 16 2024 & AUGUST 20 2024)
MOTION: Approve July 16th and August 20th minutes.
Motion by Cowan, seconded by Scriber.
The motion passed.
In favor: Bergman, Colbert, Cowan, Davis, Vanucchi (abstained from July)
Maher
(4) TOWN BOARD LIAISON REPORT
Leslie Connors, Town Board Liaison, spoke on the following topics:
Folks are encouraged to attend the upcoming planning conference in Ithaca.
Please attend the last summer market of the year this Friday
The Planner is still working on special event law which he will bring to the board. She
hopes the Planning Board will also provide feedback on it.
The board has asked the planner to begin “ticking off” tweaks to the zoning ordinance,
and if the Planning Board would like to add anything to that list, but be in touch with
him.
(5) DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
SUB-2024-05 190 Hill Road Parcel: 20.-1-22.2 Applicant: Andrew Thurnheer
Anticipated Board action(s) this month: Public Hearing; Consider Preliminary
and Final Approval
Zone: Rural 1 SEQR Type: Unlisted
Proposal: Standard Subdivision of 1 lot to 3 lots
The public hearing was still open from the previous month’s meeting. No one spoke.
The public hearing was closed at 7:06 p.m.
Board Discussion:
A letter sent by the applicant’s lawyer regarding ownership of the property was
distributed before the meeting began. Chair Maher read over the letter silently, and said
she understood from it that the applicant was the assumed owner of the land, had paid
the taxes on it, and that there were no known disputes over ownership. She also noted
that the Planning Board does not have purview over ownership of land, but rather their
role here is only to subdivide.
MOTION: To Approve Planning Board Resolution 18 of 2024 granting preliminary and
final plan approval to a standard subdivision at 142-212 Hill Road (tax parcel 20.-1-22.2)
Whereas an application has been submitted for review and approval by the Town of
Danby Planning Board for a Standard Subdivision of Town of Danby Tax Parcel No. 20.-
1-22.2, by Andrew Thurnheer, Owner; and
Whereas the Owner proposes to subdivide the existing 190-acre property into three
parcels: Parcel 1 measuring 55.2 acres; Parcel 2 measuring 34.3 acres; and Parcel 3
measuring 102.5 acres; and
Whereas the property is in the Rural 1 Zoning District, requiring a lot area minimum of
10 acres and lot depth of 800 feet; and
Whereas this is considered a Standard Subdivision in accordance with the Town of
Danby Subdivision and Land Division Regulations, Article II, § 201 C. Standard
Subdivision:
1. Any division of land resulting in three or more lots, of any size, at one time, which
such
division of land is and remains at all times subject to the requirements and terms of the
Stormwater Local Law, if and as applicable.
2. Any Minor Subdivision that does not meet the standards of Article II, Section 201 (B);
and
Whereas this is an Unlisted Action under the State Environmental Quality Review Act
and is subject to environmental review; and
Whereas the Planning Board, acting as Lead Agency, did on August 20, 2024 make a
Negative Declaration of Environmental Significance for the project; and
Whereas legal notice was published and adjacent property owners within 500 feet
notified in accordance with the Town of Danby Subdivision and Land Division
Regulations, Article VI, § 601 II.H. Hearing and Notices; and
Whereas the Planning Board held the required Public Hearing from August 20 –
September 17, 2024;
Now Therefore, be it
Resolved that the Town of Danby Planning Board does hereby grant Preliminary and
Final Subdivision Approval to the proposed Standard Subdivision of Town of Danby
Tax No. 20.-1-22.2, by Andrew Thurnheer, Owner, subject to filing with the Tompkins
County Clerk within 62 days; and
Resolved the Town of Danby hereby only approves the subdivision of the land, has not
examined the land title(s), and thus makes no representation or warranties as to title or
rights therein, except to recognize that separate lots have been created pursuant to this
approval, once filed of record in accordance with law.
Moved by Davis, Colbert seconded
The motion passed.
In favor: Bergman, Colbert, Cowan, Davis, Scriber, Vanucchi, Maher
The applicant will meet with Planner Hutnik next week and finalize the forms and
process to complete the subdivision.
SUB-2024-07 201 Jersey Hill Parcel: 8.-1-15.2 Applicant: Nicole Haddad
Anticipated Board Action(s) this Month: Sketch Plan Review
Zone: Rural 1 SEQR: Unlisted
Proposal: Minor subdivision of 1 lots to 2 lots.
Maher shared the preliminary sketch plan on the screen. She reviewed the procedure,
explaining that the public hearing and SEQR will be held at the next meeting. Today
they will provide comments and declare lead agency. Chair Maher noted that the
Planning Board may want to encourage the applicants to keep development away from
farmland.
They discussed the right of way on the parcel.
MOTION: To Approve Planning Board Resolution 19 of 2024 declaring lead agency on
a minor subdivision at 201 Jersey Hill Road (tax parcel 8.-1-15.2).
Whereas an application has been submitted for review and approval by the Town of
Danby Planning Board for a Minor Subdivision of Town of Danby Tax Parcel No. 8.-1-
15.2, by Nicole Haddad, Applicant; and
Whereas the Applicant proposes to subdivide the existing 70-acre property into two
parcels: one measuring 10 acres and the other measuring 60 acres; and
Whereas the property is in the Rural 1 Zoning District, requiring a lot area minimum of
10 acres and lot depth of 800 feet; and
Whereas this is considered a Minor Subdivision in accordance with the Town of Danby
Subdivision and Land Division Regulations, Article II, § 201 B.1. Minor Subdivision,
Option #1 – A large-lot land division is permitted, provided the following criteria are
met:
a. All lots resulting from the land division are (8) acres or more, each with frontage on a
public road maintained year-round;
b. All lots resulting from the land division meet all other pertinent zoning requirements;
and
c. No extension or improvement of an existing, or creation of a new public road, public
utility, or other public facility or area is involved.
d. Compliance with the Stormwater Local Law, if applicable, has been demonstrated,
including, but not limited to, the preparation and approval of SWPPPs, the obtaining
of Stormwater Permits, and the design, planning, installation, construction,
maintenance, and improvement of temporary and permanent Stormwater
Management Practices, as each and all of such capitalized terms are defined within
such Stormwater Local Law; and
Whereas this is an Unlisted Action under the State Environmental Quality Review Act
and is subject to environmental review; and
Whereas the Town of Danby Planning Board has sole responsibility for approving
Minor Subdivisions;
Now Therefore, be it
Resolved that the Town of Danby Planning Board does hereby declare itself Lead
Agency for the environmental review for the action of Minor Subdivision approval for
Town of Danby Tax Parcel No. 8.-1-15.2, by Nicole Haddad, Applicant
Moved by Scriber, seconded by Bergman
The motion passed.
In favor: Bergman, Colbert, Cowan, Davis, Scriber, Vanucchi, Maher
Chair Maher shared the Short Environmental Assessment Form (SEAF) Part 1 on the screen. She
noted that the planner had changed the total acreage to seventy and disturbed to zero because it
is supposed to reflect the original property and not the subdivided property.
Notice of public hearing will be sent to neighbors, Chair Maher asked about a survey, because
getting a final one is needed and that can take time. Maher let the applicant know that the next
Planning Board meeting is relatively early next month, so she recommends they be in touch
with the planner to make sure there is time to prepare. They reviewed what will happen at the
next meeting and Chair Maher reminded them to be certain that the final survey has the text
block/stamp on it. They discussed additional options and tools that could be used if the
applicant sought to subdivide the lot further. They discussed cluster subdivisions. The Planning
Board suggested the applicant stay to listen to the subsequent meeting discussion on clustering
as it is relevant to their question. They also advised the applicant to discuss with Planner
Hutnik.
SUB-2024-06 100 Van de Bogart Road Parcel: 20.-1-1.21 Applicant: Ray Van de
Bogart
Anticipated Board action(s) this month: Discussion of Cluster Subdivisions
Zone: Rural 1 SEQR Type: Unlisted
Proposal: Minor Subdivision of 1 lot to 2 lots
They reviewed the memo from the planner. Vanucchi wondered how two parcels can
be referred to as a “cluster.” Davis questioned the concept of “credits” permitting
additional subdivisions under clustering to be carried forward in the future. He
advocates the subdivider not being permitted to do any more subdivisions and believes
this is what the ordinance intends/states. Other Planning Board members questioned
this, noting the benefit of clustering to allow larger swathes of land to remain
undeveloped while smaller areas can be more affordability built on. Scriber expressed
concern about affordability, as infrastructure costs cannot be shared if development
must be kept far from other development.
They discussed Planner Hutnik’s summary of the town lawyer’s response to what
happens if the law dictating the underlying zoning is changed. Will cluster “credits” be
given or taken? They read from the planner’s memo that additional “credits” or parcels
can be allotted going forward, and Davis stated his belief that this was the opinion of
the planner and not the lawyer, nor does he think it is the intent of the clustering
regulation.
Chair Maher wondered about conditioning the parcel to only allow future development
in a specific area. They discussed what can and cannot be conditioned regarding both
parcels.
They discussed the housing affordability crisis and how clustering could potentially
assist with that. They asked how the subdivided land was going to be used and Colbert
said he thought another farmer was going to buy it and put cows on it.
They continued to discuss interest rates and the housing shortage. Scriber wondered
about the town acquiring the old Danby school and putting in senior housing and a
preschool.
They discussed the upcoming planning conference.
(6) ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:57 p.m.